Skariten
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
_________________________

(From Manual) :

This was a very  interesting  project.  It  was done  in  the  basement  of  
a  house  where  one  could  occasionally  find  three  computers  running  
simultaneously-two  on the program  and an occasional  visit by the one  
wandering  transient  with the manual. 
We would like to stress that this is  a game written  for the 64 on the 64. Most games are either  written  for  another  computer  and  then  modified  to  work  on  the  64,  or  some  big  
mainframe system and then translated to a language that the 64 can use.  
It  was not  a translation  from  another  game or  compute r, and because  
of  this  the program  takes advantage  of the whole  64 system, requiring  
only a little  load time and fitting the whole program  on only  one floppy. 
 
All of the game code was written  by use of a monitor  on an Educator  64  
which  is essentially  a 64  in a case from  a Commodore  PET line.  Most  
of the graphics sets and map data were entered on an SX-64, the portable  
with a built-in  disk drive. 
The only part not made by the 64 is the words you read here. The manual was done on an Apple  Macintosh  Plus (sin! sin!) for the simple  reason  that it (and I) were available , and we did not  
have a copy  of a good  word processor  that could  incorporate  graphics  
for the 64. With this setup, I had a 64 sitting beside the Mac, and I copied  
the screens using only what was shown in the program. 

 There were some  occasional  setbacks-trying  to  figure  out  why  the  SAVE option  wasn't  
working  properly  and blowing  up  the  main program,  how  to make  the  
bumper  that checks for objects  in the buildings  work, redoing  the sound  
that Joey  blew  away before  supper  and guessing  the SID settings , re- 
moving  the floppy  from the internal  drive  that the Macintosh  ate (Quote  
the Apple  Technician: '  . ..  It's in his hand?!?!? '), and other  little  quirks,  
but as you will  tell, these problems  have all been  taken care of and you  
can look  forward  to an adventure  of the highest  quality  and excitement  
level  ever to hit the market. . ..

---

II. Game  Proceedings  
A.  Stats  Description  
After  completing  the  loading  instructions , depending  
on whether  you have a fast loader  of some sort, the drive  
will  run  for  a little  while . When  this  is done,  you  will  be  
presented  with  a title  screen.  

If  you have been  involved  in a previous  adventure  that  
is  not  yet  complete , then  you  would  want  to  continue  
your  game , providing  you  saved  it  to  disk.  If  not,  then  
select  'N'  on  the  keyboard.  This  will  bring  you  to  the  
character  creation  screen .  

Creating  a new  character  does  not  necessarily  mean  
that  your  previous  character  has  been  wiped  out  of  
existence . The  only  way  that  this  is done  is if you  save  
your  new character  on the  game  disk .  
Decide  upon  a name  for  your  character  and  enter  it  
where  the  cursor  is  at.  Do  the  same  to  decide  if  you  
would  rather  use  a  mage  or  fighter  to  complete  your  
quest.  If  you  wish , a  simple  'M'  or  'F'  is  sufficient  for  
selection . If you  like another  name than the one you first  

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had, then choose 'N' after the program  asks if the selec- 
tions were satisfactory. This will mean you will have to go  
through  the  process again, but  it also allows correction  
o(any  mistakes that might  have been made.  
After the character  selection  is complete , you are pre- 
sented  with  the  main  playing  screen , where  all  of  the  
action takes place and your character 's statistics are also  
shown. If you have any experience  at role-playing  games,  
the stats will look familiar. If not,  then this is a brief lesson.  
'STR ' is the  amount  of  strength  possessed  by a player,  
being a factor between  1  O  and 18 with the highest at 18.  
'INT' is the amount of intelligence  possessed by a player,  
and also uses the same scale of 18 as strength . 'DEX'  is a  
players  dexterity , or  agility . A low .dexterity  means that  
a player may not be as well coordinated  as a person that  
has a higher  dexterity . 'CON ' is for  constitution , or  the  
character 's ability to withstand  physical and mental pres- 
sure  or  trauma. Constitution  affects  the  amount  of  en- 
durance  and stamina of a character , which  could  decide  
the  victor  in any battle . It also affects  the  total  amount  
of hit points that a player has.  Your Hit Points are directly  
related  to  constitution.  They  show  the  total  amount  of  
damage that the character  can take before  he dies . This  
is your  window  to the distant  continent  of Avantiae, and  
it  is also  the  way  that  you  control  the  actions  of  your  
character .

The two  interesting  stats that  are not  usually  found  in  
adventure  games  that  can  play  a vital  role  in the  game  
itself  are  the  factors  of  morale  and  fatigue , which  is  a  
deciding  factor  in  any  battle .  Morale  is  your  feelings  
toward  your  surroundings . If  your  morale  is  high,  then  
you feel good about the things  that are happening  around  
you,  and  any  actions  that  you  do  will  be  at  the  best  of  
your  ability .  If, on  the  other  hand,  your  morale  is  low,  
then  there  are factors  that  can  inhibit  your  performance  .  
as to the  best  possible  action . Your performances  suffer ,  
your  battle  skills  begin  to  fail,  and  if  not  corrected  then  
you  could  end  up  stone , cold  dead.  Morale  runs  on  a  
scale  from  1  Oto  1; ten  being  the  best  morale , and  one  
being  the  worst.  
The  other  new  statistic  to  be  added  is  the  factor  of  
Fatigue . As you  may  well  know , after  doing  certain  ac- 
tions  for  a  long  period  of  time.  you  begin  to  tire.  This  
is very  true  of battle.  In other  games , you could  continue  
to  fight  with  the  same  character ,  kill  millions  of  ores ,  
and be fresh  enough  to do in another  million  the next day.  
This  may  be  a nice  feature  for  some  who  are  inexperi- 
enced , but it is far from  being  realistic.  The fatigue  factor  
changes  all of this,  stressing  that  you  should  take  on  no  
more  than  you  think  you  can  handle . If you  get  in  over  
your  head, you  could  very  well  end  up in the  local  burial  
grounds  with  your  only  hopes of glory  as an archaeologi- 
cal  find  after  decomposing  for  a billion  years . The  best  
and primary  way to combat  fatigue  is to hole up and camp  
for a spell (the  procedure  for doing  this will  be explained  
later).  A warrior  with  low  fatigue  is one  who  will  live  to  
see  the  light  of  the  next  day, and  be  able  to  tell  of  his  
battles  with  pride  instead  of  embarrassment.  It's  more  
fun  that  way.  

14  

B. Menu  Selection  and Items  
How  do  you  select  which  weapon  you  want  to  use?  
How  do you set up camp  to rest? Where  the  heck  is this  
nice save feature  that allows you to continue  after supper  
and that one favorite  television  episode?  Fear not, mighty  
adventurer . If you  are  not  in  a city , then  the  way  to  get  
to  these  utilities  is to  simply  press  the  button.  In  place  
of  your  statistics,  you  get  a  nice  menu  of  options  that  
are available :  

lf{1:;1:1NE  

1)  SEAPCH  
2 :1 CAl!P  
3)  WEAPONS  
4)  SAVE  
5)  EXIT  

---- 

This is your selection  screen. You are given four options  
for  the  game  and  one  to  leave  this  menu  and  return  to  
your  stats  display . When  you  call  up  this  menu,  the  top  
item  SEARCH  will  be  highlited  in  blue,  showing  that  it  
is selected  for  use.  If  you  want  to  search , then  simply  
press  the  button . Why  would  you  want  to  search?  One  
reason  would  be  if  you  want  to  look  for  the  Spear  of  
Slaying . The  search  function  is  necessay  for  locating  
the  equipment  that  is vital  to completing  your  quest.  
If  you  want  to  camp  instead  of  search,  then  pull  the  
joystick  down  until  CAMP  is blue , then  press the  button .  
You will  then  see a graphic  representation  of your  char- 
acter  camping . Your character  is done  resting  when  his  
form  reappears  on  the  screen . Why  is  it  necessary  to  
camp  during  the  game?  Simple:  the  better  rested  you  

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are, the  lower  your  fatigue  and the  higher  your  morale .  
Therefore , keep rested  at all times.  
Weapons allows your character to  change the weapon  
that  he is currently  holding  in his hand. Select  this  item  
and press the  button , then  watch  the  WEAPON  column  
under the stats board as it changes to the weapon of your  
choice.  The  selection  is  done  by  moving  the  joystick  
forward  until the weapon desired appears in the column.  
Your choice  depends  on what weapons you buy and find  
while  on your  quest.  Choices  range  from  the traditional  
two-edged  sword  to  the  bow  to  the  huge  battle  axe. A  
total  of  six  weapons  are to  be chosen  from  depending  
on what you have in your  possession . However, you can  
only  have one set of armor at a time . This is the only out  
of common sense, because how many armor sets can you  
wear  at one  time?  Also,  how  many  armor  sets can. you  
carry around at one time? The only thing that extra armor  
contributes  to  is  a  hernia  and  rapid  tiring .  Since  the  
extra  armor  isn't  necessary, then  you  don't  (and  can't)  
have  any  extra  sets. When  you  have  the  weapon  you  
want, press the  button  again and you  return  back to the  
selection  screen .  
The  last two  items are rather  apparent  and are rather  
simple  in execution.  SAVE just saves your  current  posi- 
tion  and condition of  your character  along with any item  
gains or losses. EXIT returns  you to the stats display.  

C. City/Building  Entrance  
How  is it  possible  that  you  can  enter  the  cities?  The  
method  is quite  simple . All you  have to do is place your  
character  over the city and the words 'PRESS  BUTTON '  
appear  in the  text  window  indicating  that  it  is possible  
to  enter  the  structure,  whether  it  is  a  city,  village,  or  
tower . There will  be a short  load time  as t_ he village  data  
loads in to the  computer , and then  you  will  see the  en- 

16  

trance  to the  structure  itself.  You will  see the  buildings  
and other  things that are in the town, some of which  you  
may be able to  enter.  All  you  ever  have to watch  for  is  
the words 'PRESS BUTTON' to appear in the text window ,  
and then you know that it is possible  to enter  a building .  
If you  do  not  wish  to  enter  at a particular  time , simply  
walk  on  by  the  front  door/gate,  and  the  message  will  
disappear. It  is usually  a good  idea to  enter  a structure  
when  it has been discovered  for the first time  in order to  
try and locate an item that may be necessary  in order  to  
complete  the quest, to  raise your  level  of food, or just to  
get  some  information . Therefore,  use the  cities  to your  
advantage , for  they  can  hold  the  key  to the  solution  of  
the quest  itself.  
D. Special Items  
There are some special items that are necessary to the  
completion  of  the  quest.  All  of  the  items  listed  below  
are these  items :  
Spear of Slaying: this is the only  known weapon to be  
able to wound  the  beast . ..  no one  lasted  long enough  
against the dragon  to see if it would  kill  it.  
Helm  of  Lion's Courage:  when  it  is worn  by  the  ad- 
venturer,  it gives  him an attitude  of invincibility .  
Mystical  Armor: just  that , an  armor  that  can  protect  
the wearer from  the violent  force  of a dragon  in combat ,  
although  no  one  is  very  sure  how  long  it  will  last  in  
combat.  
Key of Opening: When found  by the  adventurer,  this  
key  leaves  no door  or chest  locked . It is a mystical  key  
that opens any obstacle.  
Boots of Striding: If found  (it is not known even  if they  
exist , but  since  it ~  lore,  we  may as well  tell  you  what  
they  do), they  help to reduce  the fatigue  of the wearer.  
If these  things  are possessed by the  adventurer , then  
they will be displayed  in tiny icon form under the player 's  

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statistics , according  to what the player  h_as  found . All of  
these items are necessary if the completion  of the quest  
is the  goal. Without  these  items, you  will  not ~omplete  
the quest , so the quicker  these things  are obtained,  the  
faster the quest will  approach the final  battle.  

E. Gathering  Information  
In order to obtain the special items that are needed to  
complete  the quest, you must search t~e  continent  and  
the  towns,  cities ,  and  villages .  Occasionally  you  may  
stumble  on  a certain  item  that  is vital  to  y_ our ta~k ,  b~t  
finding  most of these will  rely more o_ n talking  to inhabi- 
tants  that  live  in  the  area. To do  this, walk  up t~  any  
person on the screen and press the button . Then s1mp~y  
type  in what you wish to say to that person, but keep  in  
mind-you  can only use certain key words. For example ,  
typing  NAME  means that  you  are  inquiring  about  the  
name of the person. There  are other  key words that  are  
available , but  if  we  gave  you  those,  then  there  would  
be no adventure .  

F.  To  Battle!  
You  are  taking  a  leisurely  walk  through  the  woods ,  
doing ordinary things that any other experienced ~ragon  
killer  does at the  time , such as cleaning  and caring  for  
your  weapons, keeping  in top  physical  form , and other  
things  to  keep  at your  best.  Suddenly , out  of  nowhere,  
three  strange  creatures  leap  out  brandishing  weapons  
and yelling  unintelligible  curses. What to do: What to do?  
Run and preserve  your  skin  to fight  less vile  (a_ n? dan- 
gerous) verm in? Maybe, but then you would be ridiculed  
for  being  a coward , and these  guys  don't lo~k  like  the  
type  to  spare  a  person  who  has turned th~ir  back  ?n  
them .  No,  no  my  good  friend . You  must  fight  or  die.  
Survival  is  not  easy, but  it  is imperative . You may  run  

18  

from your  attackers,  but in the end, they must  be exter- 
minated ; for as long as they breathe , they will  keep right  
on coming  at you.  

G. Spells and Spell  Usage  
NOTE  ...  This  information  is imperative  for  the  mage  
only.  
There  are four  different  spells available  to the  mage.  
They  are listed  in the order  of power  consumption  and  
importance .  The least powerful of these is  the magic bolt.  
This  spell  fires  a  minimal  bolt  of  energy  toward  your  
adversary. Not something  to use on that huge ore tower- 
ing over 15 feet above you, but able to slow more smaller  
annoyances . The  next  powerful  spell  is  the  paralysis  
spell , which as its name implies , paralyzes the opponent.  
This is a permanent spell , but the bigger the boogie man  
the  lesser the  effect  of  the  spell.  Onward  and  upward  
we  have  the  lightning  bolt.  I'm  sure  you've  seen  one,  
and the  effects  are  . ..  well , let's  just  say that  I would  
rather cast this spell than be on the receiving  end. This  
is  more  effective  on  larger  creatures,  and  capable  of  
vaporiz ing those  nuisances that you would  have other - 
wise used the magic bolt on. Definitely fun ...  Finally, we  
have the mind blast. The mind blast spell is a final resolu- 
tion to an attack. The theoretical  concept  is that it takes  
every synapse in the body of the attacking creature  and  
creates  multiple  short  circuits ,  resulting  in  the  instant  
death  of  the  attacker.  No  creature  can  withstand  the  
attack. Since each of these spells use pure mental energy,  
they  are very taxing  on the caster in the terms of magic  
points . This shows a direct  relationship  between casting  
ability  and  intelligence . If you  are  as smart as a brick ,  
then  don't expect  to  cast the  spell  of  a god, but  those  
spells that are so special to bricks.  

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H. Final Prayers  
Well . ..  what else is left to be said? Don't take candy  
from strangers , don't go in dark places alone, say 'no' to  
drugs, and all of that  other  stuff  you were  taught  when  
you were young  . . . but seriously, folks. There are many  
secrets  left  hidden  for you  to find . Visit cities  often , for  
they offer you the wealth of information  that is necessary  
to finish the adventure.  Carry all of the weapons you can  
find . And  remember, Remember, REMEMBER  .. . this  
game  designer  has a  twisted  mind:  look  for  anything  
out  of  the  ordinary.  Good  luck, ban  voyage , and  God  
help you . . . 'cause you're gonna need him.
